Motor control for fluid pressure systems



E. c. s. CLENCH "2,593,537

MOTOR CONTROL FOR FLUID PRESSURE SYSTEMS 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 April 22, 1952 Filed July 17, 1944 41 4a 4/ /7 Z/ If 25 44 ATTORNEY April 22, 1952 E. c. s. CLENCH 2,593,537

MOTOR CONTROL FOR FLUID PRESSURE SYSTEMS Filed July 17, 1944 2 Sl-IEETS-Sl-IEET 2 mum - INVENTOR [EM/w (04w: .ww/mrz (Zn/ BY Mam ATTOENEY Patented Apr. 22, 1952 MOTOR CONTROL FOR FLUID PRESSURE SYSTEMS Edward Claude Shakespeare Clcnch, Leamington Spa, England, assignor to Automotive Products Company Limited, Leamington Spa, England Application July 17, 1944, Serial No. 545,302 In Great Britain August 23, 1 943 3 Claims. (Cl. 318-446) This invention relates to relay action electric switches, such as those used for controlling motor-pump units of fluid pressure systems. Switches of this form are usually operated by start and stop push buttons and when used in conjunction with the motor-pump units of fluid pressure systems they require to be operated manually apart from the actuation of the control valve for workin the fluid pressure system.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved form of relay action electric switch which is lever operated and in which the manually actuated part is readily adapted to be incorporated in the control means of a fluid pressure system, such as a hydraulic remote control system. A further object is to provide an improved and compact form of control unit for a hydraulic remote control system, said unit incorporatingmeans for bringing a motor-pump into operation automatically.

In controlling means for an electric power circuit having a relay-action electric switch comprising a main supply switch, an electro-magnet arranged, when energised, to close the main supply contacts, an auxiliary pair of contacts which is connected in series with the electro-magnet and is closed in common with the main supply contacts, and means for controlling the current to the electro-magnet, the present invention is characterised by the fact that the said controlling means comprises two pilot switches which are operated one before the other by movement of an operating member from an inoperative position to an operative position, the first, pilot switch being connected in series with the electro-magnet and auxiliary contacts, and the second pilot switch being connected in parallel with the auxiliary contacts. Preferably the operating member is in the form of a lever, which may conveniently constitute or be connected with means for controlling a hydraulic remote control system.

According to a further feature of the invention there is provided in conjunction with the control member of a fluid pressure remote control system, an electric switch device which is operated by said control member and acts to bring a motor-pump into action to supply pressure fluid when the control member is moved towards an operative position. The said switch device conveniently comprises a pair of pilot electric switches which are operated one after the other and which are. arranged to control the flow of current through the eleetro-magnet I of a relay-action electric switch, the second pilot switch to be operated by movement of the control member in one direction serving to close the relay-action switch, and the second pilot switch to be operated by movement of the control member in the opposite direction serving to open the relay-action switch. Where the control member is movable in either direction away from a central inoperative position, two' pairs of pilot switches can conveniently be provided, onepai'r for operation by movement of the control member in one direction and the other 'pair forope'ration by movement in the other direction.

corresponding switches of the two pairs conveniently being connected together in parallel.

Preferably a pair of pilot switches for operation in sequence comprises a common contact member movable by the control member, a first contact member which is engaged by the com mon contact member after a short travel of .the control member from its neutral position, and a second contact member which is engaged after a" substantial further movement of the. control member, thus connecting together all three of said contact members. If desired the common contact member may be mounted so as to be moved angularly by the control member, said contact member carrying two radial contact fingers, which latter are arranged to co -operate in sequence, with a stationary first contact member and a stationary second contact member as the control member is moved away from its neutral position. The common contact member may be formed with a pair of fingers either of which engages the first contact member, depending upon the direction in which the control member is moved, and with a corresponding pair of fingers for subsequent engagement with the second contact member.

In an alternative arrangement the first and second contact members comprise spring fingers engaged in sequence by projections carried by the common contact member, the common contact member conveniently comprising a strip which is reciprocated by movement of the control member. Thus a pair of common contact members may be provided, one or other being actuated by movement of the control member, depending upon the direction of such movement.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a general view of a typical liquid pressure system, the control device being shown in section; and

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, showing a modified form of switch mechanism.

In the hydraulic remote control system which is shown in Figure l a pump I driven by an electric motor receives liquid through a pipe |2 from a reservoir l3 and delivers it: under pressure through a pipe It leading to a selector valve indicated generally at I5. This selector valve comprises a body l6 having a bore I! within which a piston valve member IB is axially slidable, said piston valve member being formed with a pair of circumferential, lands l9 and arranged to control the how of liquid; through three axially spaced ports 2|;,,2,2 and 23. The

'port 22 receives pressure liquid from the pipe I4, While the ports 2| and 23 are connected by interchangeable fiow and return pipe lines 24 and 25 with the working spaces 26 and 2,? respectively, of a double-acting motor unit 28 having a piston 29. Spaces 30. and 3| at the ends oi the bore I], are connected, permanently with. the; reservoir I3 by, allongitudinal' passage 3.2. in the; body It and; by areturnlpipeiiti The piston valve member l8 isoperated by. a control lever 34 pivotedv at 35 to a switch casing, 36, which latter is securely attached to the selector valve l5. Where the piston valve member l8 projects into the switch casing 36, it is formed at one side with a groove 31,. which, latter accommodates between its walls a. roller 38 pivoted to the. depending part of the lever 34; thus the piston, valve member I81 is permitted to slide along its axis while the roller: 38 carried by the lever 34 makes; anarcuate movement about, the axiszof the pivot 35. The, piston valve member [Bis urged resiliently-towards its central position, as, shown. by mcansof a coiled compres sion' spring- '33; actingto press apart. a p ir of washers All)v and 4|, which latter, are; slidably mounted upon a. reduced diameterv stem. 42. of the valve; member l8, washer 40 bears against a flange or shoulder 43 uponzthe body it, while in a correspondingmanher the" washer engages at its outer part.

against a shoulder 44 alsov formed upon said body l3. At: the same time-the outer partioi the washer lfi' engages a nut: 45 mounted upon the stem 42, while thewasher 4| bears against a shoulder 46" upon the valve member l8, it will thus'be seen that the coiled compression spring 39 'has its maximum length when the valve inem her [8- is in its central or normal position as shown, and that movement of said valve member in either direction causes the spring to become shortened, one or other of the washers 49 and. 4|- sliding upon the stem 42:. The spring 39, acting through the piston valve member It, also serves to centralise the control" lever 3d.

When the selector valve I5 is in its normal position, as shown, the lands I9 and 23 serve to isolate the pressure port 22, whereas both of the motor ports 2| and 23 are. in free communication with the reservoir I3 when the valve member I 8 is moved to the left the land I9 moves across and beyond the port 2|, thus connecting the latter with the output from the pump Ill, so that the motor piston 23 is moved to the right, whilein a similar manner movement of thepiston 29' to the left is brought about by shifting the valve-member I8 to the right so as to deliver pressure liquid through the port 23 and'into the pipe line 25,

As it is undesirable that the pump It should be" running continuously, even when the remote The Outer part of; the

control system is inoperative, provision is made 7 whereby the electric motor II is brought into action automatically whenever the control lever 34 is moved away from its central position. For

this purpose the control lever 34 is arranged to actuate,- a pilot switch device Within. the casing 36; said device comprising a rotor member 41 mounted to move angularly upon a fixed pivot pin 48 and formed at its upper part with a radial notch 59, which latter is engaged by a pin, 50 carried at the lower extremity of the control lever 34. Attached to the rotor member ll, but electrically insulated from the casing 36,

is a, common, contact member in the form of a plate 5!. This has at its upper part a pair of ears; 52 and 53, while its lower part is formed with an. arcuate flange 54 serving to connect the. contact member 5| continuously with a fixed terminal fitting 55. A first fitting 5.3, and a second terminal fitting 5'! are also mounted within the switch" casing 38, butare electrically insulated from the terminal fitting; 55. When the control lever 3c: is inits central position the first terminal member'fifi is disposed centrally with respect to the space between the ear 52 and the adjacent end of the flange 54, and it follows, therefore, that the gaps 58 and 59 on either side of the terminal fitting 53 are equal. The second terminal fitting 5| is disposed halfway between the ear 53 and the adjacent end of the. flange-54, thus making the gaps 60 and 6| equal insize; however, the gaps 60 and 6| are purposely madesubstantially larger than the gaps58 and 59; Thus when, the control lever 34 is moved away from, its central position the contact member 5| first makes contact with the. terminal member 56' and then, after a substantial further movement the control lever 34, contact is established, between the contact member'54 and the second terminal fitting 51. This effect, occurs during movement, oi the control lever 3.4 in eit. .er. direction from its central position..

The electric. motor H is fed with. current from a. three-phase Yconn.ec.ted transformer supply, the inputv leads being, indicated at 62, 63 and lid. The supply is controlled by an electro-magneti-' cally operated contactor of the customary form indicated at 65, and having, in addition to the three main pairs of contacts 55, El and 68, an auxiliary pair of contacts 69, 70 adapted to be closed by a contact member 7| whenever the solenoidlZ' is energized to close the main supply circuit. The solenoid 12 is connected at one end to the input lead 62, while its other'end is con-- nected by a wire 13 withthe terminal fitting 55. The first terminal fitting 55 is connected by a wire 14 with the auxiliary contact 69, while the second terminal fitting 51 has. a wire 15 connecting it with the auxiliary contact ii]. The latter is also connectedv to earth to secure a source of e. m. f. for the solenoid l2, although it may if desired be connected with either of the supply leads 63 and 64 for the same purpose. It will thus be seen that the first pilot switch (constituted by the first terminal fitting 56 and the common contact member 5|) is connected in series with the solenoid l2 and the auxiliary contacts 63, 10; the second pilot switch (constituted by the second terminal member 51 and the common contact member 5|) is, however, merely disposed in series with the solenoid T2.

The action of the switch device is as follows. With the control lever 34 in its central position as shown the circuit through the solenoid '12 is terminal broken, so that the supply of current to the motor is interrupted at the pairs of contacts 66, 61 and 68. Asthe control lever 34 is moved, say, in an anti-clockwise direction, the ear 52 engages with the terminal fitting 56 after a few degrees of movement, but this is ineffective, as the circuit through the solenoid 12 is still broken at the auxiliary contacts 59, 19. As the movement of the control lever 34 continues, however, the end of the arcuate fiange 54 engages with the second terminal fitting 51, thus enabling the solenoid 12 to be energised and causing the current supply to be switched on to the electric motor I l the auxiliary contacts 69, being bridged at the same time by the contact member 1!. Pressure liquid delivered by the pump 19 is thus directed by the selector valve IE to the hydraulic motor 28, and when the piston 29 of the latter has made the requisite movement the control lever 34 is returned to its central position. During this return movement the common contact member 5! first separates from the second terminal fitting 51, but this does not interrupt the circuit through the solenoid 12, owing to the fact that the auxiliary contacts 69 and 19 are closed, so that the supply to the electric motor It continues to be effective until the common contact member 5! disengages from the first terminal fitting 56 as the control lever 34 nearly reaches its central position. By the use of the two pilot switches corresponding with the terminal fittings 59 and 51 respectively a decisive control of the current through the solenoid 12 is assiu'ed, for the lever 34 has to be moved through an angle of several degrees to bring about the making and the breaking (or vice verse) of the circuit, so that it is quite impossible for the lever 34 to be placed in any particular position where the solenoid is energised only partially or intermittently, which would cause damage to the contacts due to arcing.

A modified form of switch device is shown in Figure 2 and is suitable for use with the selector valve l5 and motor contactor 65 described above. In this case the lower part of the control lever 34 has a circular enlargement 1B. which is adapted to engage slidably within a diametral slot 11 forming the end part of the piston. valve member I8. The lower part of the lever 34 is somewhat pointed, as indicated at 18, and is arranged normally to occupy a notch 19 between the limbs 89 and BI of a Y-shaped rocker 82 pivoted at 83 to the base 86 of the switch. This base is conveniently composed of electrical insulating material and carries four switch contacts, namely two inner contacts 85 and 88, and two outer contacts 81 and 88. Each of these contacts is in the form of a spring arm, the inner two being connected with a terminal 56 by an insulated wire 89, while the outer two are connected by wires 99 and 9| with a terminal 51. Mounted upon the base 84 are two flat metal bars 92 and 93, which are fitted between undercut guide members 94 and 95 so as to be free to slide laterally, springs (not shown) being provided to urge the bars 52 and 93 inwardly so that metal lugs 96 and 91 em gage resiliently with the central stem 98 of the rocker 82, thus centralising the latter. When the rocker is in its central or normal position these lugs 96 and 91 are both spaced from the corresponding switch members 85 and 88, but by a relatively short distance in each case, whereas an outer pair of lugs 99 and I99 are spaced by a much greater distance from the corresponding switch members 81 and 83. The bars 92 and 93 are connected by wires HH and N12 with a central terminal 55. I

The manner in which the switch shown in Fig-v ure 2 operates is as follows, the electrical cir-. cult being the same as that shown in Figure 1. When the control lever 34 is. in its central position contact is completely broken between the terminals 55, 56 and 51, and when the control lever is moved in either direction its lower end deflects the rocker 82 at a relatively rapid rate, so that one or other of the lugs 96 and 91 very quickly engages with the corresponding contact member or 86, thus connecting together the terminals 55 and'56. By reference to Figure 1;. however, it will be seen that this has noefiect on the solenoid 12 of the contactor 65. Continued movement of the control lever 34 causes the corresponding outer projection 99 or I00 to engage with the outer contact member 81 or 88, thus completing the circuit through the terminals 55 and 51; this has the effect of feeding current through the solenoid 12 and bringing the electric motor ll into operation. When the control lever is being moved back to its central position the circuit through the terminals 51 and 55 is first broken, but the solenoid 12 does not become deenergised until the control lever 34 has been moved sufiiciently far to break the circuit through the terminals 55 and 56.

It will be understood that the arrangements which have been described are given merely by way of example and that various modifications may be made to suit requirements. Thus, various forms of switches are applicable to the invention, such, for instance, as mercury switches, while, of course, the invention can be applied to various fluid pressure supply systems other than those for hydraulic remote control.

What I claim is:

1. In a motor control system, the combination with a source of current supply and an electric motor, of a magnetically-controlled switch comprising a main switch connected between the current supply and said motor and having an electro-magnet operatively connected to the main switch to close the same when the magnet is energized, a control circuit including said electro-magnet, an auxiliary switch in the control circuit, said auxiliary switch being operatively connected to said electro-magnet to be closed simultaneously with the main switch, and a manually settable switch in the control circuit having a member movable in either direction from an inoperative position to an operative position via first and second positions, in the first position the manually settable switch is in series with the electro-magnet and the auxiliary switch, and in the second position said manually settable switch is in parallel with said auxiliary switch.

2. In a motor control system, the combination with a source of current supply and an electric motor, of a magnetically-controlled switch comprising a main switch connected between the current supply and said motor and having an electromagnet operatively connected to the main switch to close the same when the magnet is energized, a control circuitincluding said electro-magnet, an auxiliary switch in the control circuit, said auxlliary switch being operatively connected to said electromagnet to be closed simultaneously with the main switch, and a manually settable switch in the control circuit having a member movable in either direction from an inoperative position to an operative position via first and second positions, in the first position the manually settable switch is in; seriesz with. the-emetro-mag} net and the auxiliary switch, and, in. the; second positian said manually: setteble switch, is; in parall'el with. said; auxiliary switch, a d spr nsem ms. forholding-"seid;manue11y settwbie; switoh in its inoperativegfposition.o

3'. In: a, mote: control; system as' defined. in claim 1, whe tein, said manually set'teble switch comprises, a, common, contact element, mounted 0115,3111.IIIQVab1&m3mbI', a first contectelement, engageahle: by the common. Contact element after a; short 011211 8101; said, member, fromits. inoperative" position, and. a; second contact elementengageeblle; by: theeommon, contact element aiter further; movement of; said, member to themby cennect; together; all. of said contact elements;

EDWARD. CLAUDE SHAKESPEARE. CLENCH.

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